Optimal frequency setting on transit lines: A marginal cost analysis approach

A proper and effective optimal frequency setting model is the key to the bus dispatching scheme optimization and the bus service improvement. This paper introduces a new method to calculate the optimizing frequency on the transit lines using marginal cost analysis approach in economics. The objective of the method is to minimize the total cost of the passengers as well as the bus companies, and it can be found that system optimization can be reached when the marginal passenger cost equals that of the bus company. Composition of cost of passengers and bus companies are listed and analyzed using the marginal cost analysis approach and the optimal frequency calculation model is established. At last, a calculating example is given and applications of the model are discussed. © 2010 ASCE.